Ahead of the squad announcement for the T20 World Cup, Shaheen Afridi was offered the vice-captaincy of the Pakistan T20 side but declined the opportunity. Sources reveal that the PCB selection committee proposed naming Shaheen as Babar Azam’s deputy for the upcoming tournament, yet the fast bowler turned down the position. Consequently, the final T20 World Cup squad, announced just before the ICC deadline, did not include an official vice-captain.
Despite attempting to move on from being stripped of the T20 captaincy after one series. Shaheen Afridi continues to harbor a sense of injustice. He reportedly never received satisfactory explanations for his dismissal and was reluctant to assume another leadership role following his abrupt removal from the previous position.
The recent development underscores the ongoing challenges in repairing the strained relationship between Shaheen and the PCB. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at the possibility of replacing Shaheen, leading to his dismissal.
However, a subsequent statement attributed warm words of encouragement from Shaheen to Babar, which Shaheen claimed he never expressed. Although an uneasy truce was reached, Shaheen’s refusal of another leadership opportunity indicates lingering tensions.
While Shaheen was the preferred choice, the PCB selection committee also considered alternative candidates. Shadab Khan, a former vice-captain, was among the contenders despite concerns about his recent form. Mohammad Rizwan’s name was also raised but ultimately dismissed in favor of appointing a younger player to the role.
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